I'm really interested in learning Flamenco dancing. I've been a bellydancer for several years, and I've learned a lot from videos when I couldn't get to a teacher. I live about 250 miles from the nearest professional dancers, so this was my only option except when I'd go to workshops or go on trips to see a teacher.
I decided that perhaps this would work for Flamenco, too, until I could get to see a teacher for some instruction. I bought the first two DVD's from the Manuel Salado series. While it's easy to see what the dancer is doing, I'm very frustrated. There is no discussion about the rhythms, how to incorporate steps into the dance. I guess it's a lack of context.
So is there some way I can fill in the gaps? The DVDs I have covers steps from Bulerias, tarantos, fandangos, sevillanas and boleras. However, other than learning a couple steps, I really don't feel like I have any idea what each of them is, how they're different, etc.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I decided that perhaps this would work for Flamenco, too, until I could get to see a teacher for some instruction. I bought the first two DVD's from the Manuel Salado series. While it's easy to see what the dancer is doing, I'm very frustrated. There is no discussion about the rhythms, how to incorporate steps into the dance. I guess it's a lack of context.
So is there some way I can fill in the gaps? The DVDs I have covers steps from Bulerias, tarantos, fandangos, sevillanas and boleras. However, other than learning a couple steps, I really don't feel like I have any idea what each of them is, how they're different, etc.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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North Dakota
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Re: Need some help
Sun, March 4, 2007 - 10:22 PMhi cherish,
sounds like a complex question.
i've been studying flamenco since 1998, and i did take a little bit of bellydancing before that. from my experience, the two art forms are very different, and also taught differently. even taking classes regularly, it takes a long time to learn to differentiate all of the song forms, and even longer to really understand them. mostly they teach the technique of the steps, and you learn choreographies or pieces of choreographies. i didn't learn to improvise until i had been studying at least two years, though that probably has more to do with the teachers and the classes you take, there are students that learn sooner. the basic rhythm structures are taught in the classes though.
i would suggest listening to the music as much as you can.
also this website might be helpful for learning the different song forms: www-org.andalucia.org/flamenco/
oh, for rhythms, i just googled flamenco rhythm and got these and much more:
www.flamenco-norfolk.co.uk/tutorial.htm
www.ctv.es/USERS/norman/compexp.htm
users.aol.com/BuleriaChk/...compasa.html
but i don't know how easy it will be to learn it from a website.
if you want to try a different DVD, at least this guy's DVD's only have one song form (palo) per DVD, so ithey may go into more detail.
www.flamenco-world.com/tienda...ia/610/
you may also be able to find some books, but i don't have any suggestions there.
i hope this is at least a little helpful.
good luck.
LoLa -
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Unsu...
Re: Need some help
Sun, March 4, 2007 - 11:50 PMLola is right, flamenco dance is first a matter of music. Don't forget that you're not only dancing, but first you're playing rhythms with your feet. So yes, try to listen as much flamenco as possible, get to learn the structures, try to make them yours, get as close as possible to the music, so it becomes natural to you.
It takes a while since the campas are not the ones our Western ears are used to, so be patient :)
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